Overhead switch



v 2 Shets-Sheet 1. J. S. RICE 86 F. W. BEITTENMILLER.

(No Model.)

OVERHEAD SWITCH.

No. 604,266. Patented May 17,1898.

4y mmm e, MAW/ (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. S. RICE 8: F. W. BEITTENMILLER. OVERHEAD SWITCH.

No. 604,266. Patented May 17,1898.

Uivrrnn STATE PATENT FFICE.

JOSEPH S. RICE AND FREDRIOHVV. BEITTENMILLER,OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

OVERHEAD SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 604,266, dated May 1'7,1898.

Application filed March 7, 1 8 9 8- the switch of two interlockingportions, one

adapted to guide the trolley to one track and the other adapted to guidethe trolley to another track. In the present instance one of theseportions is straight and the other curved; but it will be understoodthat the shape of these sections depends entirely upon the location ofthe switch and the tracks.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of ourimproved switch, showing the curved section in line with the tracks andthe straight section thrown out. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showingthe straight section in line and the curved section thrown out. Fig. 3is a sectional view showing the curved section in line. Fig. 4 is asectional view showing the straight section in line.

A is the track of a single-rail trolley system,having an extension Abeyond the switch D. B is the connectingrail, extending to anothersystem of tracks or to a siding. In packing beeves, for instance,instorage-houses these tracks are arranged in series, and certain quartersof a beef are hung on certain tracks, so that when the beeves aretransferred-for instance, from a car or wagon to a storage-house-theyare hooked onto the trolleys and are pushed along the track A andshifted to any of the tracks, according to the quarter hung upon thetrolley. For instance, all the hind quarters are arranged on one track,the fore quarters arranged on another, and so on, so that in removingthe meat from the storage-houses they can select without trouble orconfusion the portions desired. It will be seen, therefore, that theseswitches for transferring the meat to given Serial No. 672,905. (Nomodel.)

tracks must be operated very quickly and must be so arranged as to avoidcomplication.

The switch structure D is constructed in the following manner: 7

Secured in the present instance to the rails A A is a frame D, havingbrackets d d, to which are attached pivot-bars d 01 Pivoted to the bar dis the straight rail-section E, consisting of the rail proper, e, andlugs 6, through which the bar d passes. Pivoted to the bar 01 is thecurved rail-section F, having a curved rail f, forming part of orsecured to the arms f, which have lugs f through which the pivot-bar dpasses.

The section F has two arms 9 g, which extend toward the section E,forming a fork, and working between these arms is a cam e projectingfrom one of the lugs e of the rail E. This lug has also an extension aagainst which strikes the arm 9 of the rail-section F when the saidrail-section is thrown up out of position.

On the rail-section F is an operating-arm F, to which is attached a cordor chain a, preferably provided with a suitable handle within easy reachof the operator. The arm F is so arranged in respect to the pivot thatit will swing to either side, according to the position of therail-section F, and by pulling down upon the cord when in eitherposition it will shift the rail-section F. All that is necessary,therefore, is for the operator to move the trolley to a point in closeproximity to the switch, and if he finds that the switch wants setting,so as to shift the trolley upon the proper track, he simply pulls downupon the cord and the switch is shifted. If another operator comes andwishes to transfer his trolley to another track, he pulls down upon thecord and shifts the switch again, so that there is no complication inthe operation. There is only one movement for shifting in positioneither the curved or the straight section.

The weight of the rail-section F is sufficient to hold it when it isthrown intooperative position, and when it is thrown out of operativeposition its center of gravity passes the vertical line of the pivot,and this section then acts as a weight to hold the rail-section E inposition, as indicated in Fig 4.

There is a space between the projection e and the rail 6 of therail-section E to allow the wheels of the trolley to pass over therails.

We claim as our invention 1. The combination in an overhead switch, ofrails, two pivoted rail-sections interlocking one with the other, an armon one section so arranged as to pass on either side of the pivot of thesaid section when operated, so that a down pull will shift the rails ofthe sections when in either position, substantially as described.

2. The combination in an overhead switch, of rails, the two pivotedrail-sections, one section interlocking with the other, the rail of onesection acting as a weight when thrown back to hold the otherrail-section in position, substantially as described.

3. The combination in an overhead switch, of rails, two pivotedrail-sections E, F, arms 9 g on the rail-section F, a cam e on therailsection E adapted to work between the said arms and a projection eon the rail-section E against which the arm 9 of the rail-section Fstrikes when the said rail-section is thrown out and the rail-section Eis thrown in, and means for operating the said rail-section F,substantially as described.

4. The combination in an overhead switch, of rails, a frame secured tosaid rails, arms on the frame, two pivot-rods secured to said arms, astraight rail-section pivoted to one rod and having a cam, a curvedrail-section pivoted to the other rod and having arms engaging the cam,and an operating-arm on the curved rail-section, substantially asdescribed. ,7

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH S. RICE. FREDR-ICH W. BEITTENMILLER.

Witnesses:

THOMAS C. WEAR,- G. PERCY FoX.

